Where do I even start with these beautiful Cornerstone Sonoma wedding photos, at a versatile Bay Area venue set in stunning Northern California wine country?

Set among the pretty birch gardens, ponds, lawns and vines of Cornerstone Sonoma in wine country, the fusion wedding really combined so much remarkable diversity. It was so much fun to photograph!

Cornerstone Sonoma itself is a melting pot of a wedding venue, so much more than a regular Sonoma wedding venue. There are gems everywhere you look, making for the most awesome wedding photos.

Say hi to this sweet fusion wedding couple!

See for yourself the energy, fun and love that Yumi and Dayo brought to Cornerstone Sonoma in their wedding photos from their summer 2019 wedding.

Cornerstone Sonoma wedding - bride and groom seated on loveseat

The couple during their wedding ceremony – with lots of music and dancing! | Photography by Zoe Larkin Photography

Featured wedding!

This wedding was featured on Bridal Musings!

Go here to check out the full feature! Thanks to an amazing couple and a wonderful vendor team for making this happen.

About the couple

The Redwood City couple, Yumi and Dayo first contacted me back in July of 2018 to tell me all about their City Hall wedding.

They met on a dating app in 2014 while both working 80-hour weeks. Their first date was at Beretta, a pizzeria in the Mission on a Tuesday night, and bonded over the deliciousness of their walnut bread.

They then talked every day since that first date. Four years later, on a jetlagged Sunday morning in pajamas after returning from their third trip to Japan together, Dayo proposed to Yumi on the couch in their apartment. Yumi described the proposal as ‘Low key, but it was very us.’

They had an idea that they wanted a larger reception at a later date, and May 2019 was the perfect time for their 120-person Cornerstone Sonoma wedding. It was a beautifully warm (but not hot) day, great for an outdoor ceremony and indoor partying into the night.

san francisco city hall japanese and nigerian wedding

Highlights from Yumi and Dayo’s San Francisco City Hall wedding before their big wedding! | Photography by Zoe Larkin Photography

Vibe & wedding style

They are a very chilled pair that put family first. The two of them really emphasized having a fun, stress-free day. This wedding would be the first and likely only time that family members were brought together from as far afield as Japan, Nigeria and all over the States.

The most unique aspect of the wedding was the fusion between the two cultures, representing their respective heritage. They blended aspects of each side into a beautiful celebration combining the lively dances of the Nigerian side with the sense of reverence of the Japanese side.

Something pretty hilarious happened on the wedding day, which Yumi says sums them up as a couple: playful, silly and light-hearted.

After the ceremony, Dayo danced out with all his groomsmen. Just like a standard recessional. However, he was missing one person from his side: Yumi! He was almost all the way down the aisle recessional when he realized. Yumi rushed forward and they continued down the aisle together, laughing non-stop. The above photo sums it up…

That’s Yumi and Dayo!

Another story about them that I can’t resist sharing is that they pulled off the entire ceremony – in all its cross-cultural fusion – without a rehearsal! They just couldn’t fit it in the night before due to their super packed work schedules. Kudos!

This is where major props must be given to Lindsey & team at Ooh La La Weddings who planned an entirely unique ceremony and executed flawlessly on the day!

More about Cornerstone Sonoma wedding

Family members loved it! The wedding party some of whom were not so familiar with the Nigerian dances and practices had SO much fun rolling with it. It looked like such a blast taking part in a wedding that involved dancing down the aisle with your besties.

Yumi wore a traditional Nigerian outfit for the ceremony, then changed into Western-style dress afterward. Female family members wore a traditional wedding kimono, which they helped each other tie in the back. The cultural garments of both sides required a lot of practice and experience tying and laying the fabric correctly.

That’s where moms, aunts and other elders are absolutely indispensable!!

As well as the cultural fusion elements there were lots of classic California touches and traditional American/ western wedding facets. They managed to incorporate so much that was personal, as well as familiar.

Add to this the absolutely incredible florals by Vanda Floral, and exquisite rental pieces from Bright Event Rentals, and you’ve got the stuff that wedding dreams are made of.

cornerstone sonoma wedding details photographed by Zoe Larkin Photography

Some of the beautiful wedding spaces at Cornerstone Sonoma | Photography by Zoe Larkin Photography

Cornerstone Sonoma unique features & spaces

Cornerstone Sonoma, as well as being an incredible wedding venue is also a wine country marketplace. It features a collection of world-class shopping, boutique wineries and tasting rooms, artisanal foods, art-inspired gardens and live music. It’s home to Sunset’s Gardens + Outdoor Test Kitchen.

As the first such gallery-style gardens in the United States, the 9-acre Cornerstone Gardens has a variety of options when it comes to setting the perfect ambiance.

The advantage of a traditional wedding venue is that everything is taken care of. Members of the general public are kept out and everything is set up perfectly for photos. There are gorgeous backdrops in every direction.

Bonus points for: huge parking lot and everything (ceremony area, outdoor reception and indoor reception for when it gets chilly) is super close.

One of the most stunning features is The Vineyard Lawn. It’s adjacent to the gardens and bordered by Pinot Noir vineyards to the east. A more private location, featuring a stunning reflecting pond that stretches the length of the lawn to create a calming oasis.

Yumi and Dayo used the beautiful lawn bordered by the lily pond, the tent that’s adjacent to that for dinner, and the rustic Garden Barn to shake their booties.

The amazing team at Cornerstone Sonoma will take good care of you and up to 350 guests!

More info about my wedding photography services: Bay Area wedding photographer – Homepage | Bay Area Wedding photographer – Info, pricing, about & portfolio